Jesus the Bread of Life
PS BRENDEN BROWN | FEB 15, 2026
Hungry Again for the Bread of Life
John 6 opens with crowds following Jesus—not because they truly understood who He was, but because they were intrigued by what He could do for them: miracles, healings, provision, and power. They were curious and captivated, yet hungry for the wrong reason. They sought what Jesus could give, not who He is.
It was nearing Passover, a sacred celebration that recalled Moses, the man God raised to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Moses, a reluctant shepherd and leader, asked, “How am I going to do this? Who should I say sent me?” God replied, “I AM who I AM” (Exodus 3:14), revealing Himself as the One who delivers, sustains, and provides.
Now, centuries later, during Passover, the Deliverer was no longer a story from the past. Jesus had crossed the lake, and the crowds followed Him. The One Moses pointed to—the “I AM” made flesh—was walking among His people. The God who once sent bread from heaven in the wilderness was present in human form.
Jesus turns to Philip and asks a question that goes beyond logistics:
“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5
This was not a practical question—it was a test. Philip, a Hebrew schooled in Scripture, knew the story of manna and God’s provision. Yet when faced with the crowd, he faltered. Just as Moses once asked, “How am I going to…?” Philip now stands in the same tension. God’s response echoes across generations: “Is my arm too short? Am I stingy? Do I not have enough?” Jesus invited Philip to think differently, to trust the Kingdom’s economy rather than human scarcity.
Then Andrew says, “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9. This moment reveals a powerful truth: God will bypass an older generation for childlike, dependent faith. Even the smallest offering, in Jesus’ hands, multiplies to meet every need.
Jesus takes the bread and fish, gives thanks, and distributes it. Everyone eats and is filled. Afterwards, the disciples collect twelve baskets of fragments—one for each disciple. They began with almost nothing and ended with abundance.
When you give yourself fully to God, nothing is ever wasted. As David said "He has never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” Psalm 37:25. When you serve Him, He supplies every need. Fear has no place when your heart is set on seeking the Kingdom, because His provision, presence, and power surpass anything the world can offer.
Yet our generation struggles. Many Christians are full of sermons but empty of revelation. We hear the Word but fail to internalize it. We attend church yet do not truly surrender. We listen but do not feed. True hunger is not striving—it is receiving, opening your heart, yielding your will, and letting God fill you with Himself.
The next morning, the crowds come searching for Jesus again. He exposes the heart of consumer Christianity: “You are looking for Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” John 6:26
We want blessing without brokenness, God as a vending machine dispensing miracles and comfort without participation. But God is not a genie—He is the Creator who multiplies bread and fish, holds all things together, and calls us to seek Him fully. Jesus says, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life” John 6:27. We have allowed the world to dictate our appetite for too long.
The people cling to tradition:
“Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” John 6:31.
Jesus corrects them:
“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven” John 6:32.
Then He declares:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” John 6:35.
Yet He adds a sobering truth:
“Even though you have seen Me, you still do not know Me” John 6:36.
There is a gravitational pull from God today. He draws hearts, and everyone He draws will come—unless we resist. So we must ask: why resist? Is it past hurt or the cost of surrender? Every time God asks us to let go, it is for something better.
Think of Israel: God brought them out of Egypt quickly, but Egypt did not leave their hearts quickly. The wilderness taught dependence and stripped away self-reliance. This is why Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” Matthew 6:11. Daily, not weekly. We must learn to be dependent daily on The Lord just as they did in the wilderness, they were dependent on God for manna daily. He is our daily bread.
God is calling His Church back to daily dependence (John 6:35; 6:51-58). In a world full of noise—social media, distractions, endless opinions—many believers drift, never rooted in spiritual leadership or committed to the house God placed them in. Yet He is raising a Church that will be pure and blameless.
Jesus says:
“I am the living bread. My body is real food. My blood is real drink. Unless you eat and drink, you have no life in you” John 6:51-53.
He speaks not of ritual, but of union. Feed on Him, and He becomes your life. Eat this bread, and you will live forever (John 6:54-58).
Bread like food must be internalized. What we eat affects our bodies. It either strengthens us and makes us healthy or we can eat an unhealthy diet. So it is when it comes to our Spiritual life. The true bread of life and the word of God must be eaten.
Bread must be eaten daily. Jesus is our daily bread. Max Lucado states “Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread?” We must receive bread daily.
Jesus is not a spiritual side dish or a weekend inspiration or a theological hobby. He is either your nourishment or you are starving. Can we encourage you to eat the true bread of life today. Let’s feast on Jesus. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for they will be filled.
